Hopkinton School Committee turns down school choice

Consistent with the past, the school district next year will not participate in the state’s school choice program.

By Laura Krantz/Daily News staff

MetroWest Daily News, Framingham, MA

By Laura Krantz/Daily News staff

Posted May. 18, 2013 at 12:01 AM
Updated May 18, 2013 at 6:04 PM

By Laura Krantz/Daily News staff

Posted May. 18, 2013 at 12:01 AM
Updated May 18, 2013 at 6:04 PM

HOPKINTON

» Social News

Consistent with the past, the school district next year will not participate in the state’s school choice program.

At its meeting Thursday Night, the School Committee voted unanimously not to allow parents from other communities to send their children to schools in Hopkinton.

Some communities choose not to participate. Others choose to accept students only in certain grades. The school choice program requires the sending district to pay the receiving district.

Around MetroWest and the Milford area, last year Natick, Ashland, Holliston, Hudson, Medway, Mendon-Upton and Milford participated in school choice, according to state data.

School Committee Chairwoman Nancy Burdick said historically Hopkinton has not accepted school choice students for financial and space reasons.

"The potential for having students with significant special needs or special education needs is something that you cannot choose," she said. "You can’t choose who you take."

An individualized education plan for a special education student can be expensive, she pointed out. She also said Hopkinton's own enrollment fluctuates and makes it hard to know how many local students each grade will have each year.

"You may end up having challenges in your own district because of the choice," Burdick said.

Districts must report their choice for the 2013-2014 school year to the state by the end of June.

Superintendent Steven Hiersche also advised the district against participating in school choice.

"Financially, the formula for what towns pay does not match what is the actual cost to districts," Hiersche wrote in an email Friday.

Contact Laura Krantz at 508-626-4429 or lkrantz@wickedlocal.com. Follow her on Twitter @laurakrantzmwdn.